One of the struggles that many parents have dealt with for hundreds, if not thousands of years, is a problem with bedtime. More than likely, most mothers have heard people talk about the fact that they will never get a good night sleep again after the baby is born. When the baby arrives, it suddenly becomes apparent that there was some truth to the statement.
Of course, sleeping isn’t the only issue that parents may face. They may also face a difficulty with potty training or other factors associated with parenting that may make life difficult at times. According to a study, however, there may be some truth to the fact that a set bedtime for children is a good thing. It shows that when children go to bed early, they tend to be healthier and the mother tends to be happier.
Most of us would consider this a matter of common sense but now science has joined in with a study that shows the truthfulness of it. It was known as the Growing up in Australia study, and researchers tracked thousands of families starting back in 2004. Every couple of years, those families took part in interviews and researchers tracked their health, both mentally and physically. They analyzed their lifestyle data and sleep and they found something rather significant that was associated with the child’s bedtime.
According to Jon Quach, the lead author of the study, “Mums and dads, getting kids to bed early is not just great for them. It’s good for you, too.” It was found that children who fell asleep by 8:30 PM had a better quality of life and a higher level of health. According to the study, the mothers also had improved mental health as well.
Most parents will readily admit that it makes perfect sense that they would experience the benefits when their children went to bed early. As it turns out, however, there was another study done in the United States that found children who went to bed earlier also tended to sleep longer. Considering the fact that children need a lot of sleep, it can do much good.
The following chart from the National Sleep Foundation is rather telling:
So what can you do to help your children get to sleep earlier? Again, the National Sleep Foundation chimed in and said that reducing screen time before bedtime was an important factor. The blue light from television, computer and mobile phone screens can affect the release of melatonin and keep a child up late.
A consistent bedtime may also be of great assistance. If it is coupled with a relaxing routine, such as taking a nice bath and reading books before bedtime, it can be good for everyone involved.
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